Electric switch



Oct. 25, 1932. l E NoRvlEL v 1,884,147

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed NOv. 29. 1929 f4 A Har/ y. 6.' /Vo/'viel da.; uw 7 Patented Oct. 25, 1932 i' UNITED STATES Pafrlazujl` OFFICE HARRY E. NORVIEL, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB T0 DELCO-BEHY CORPORATION, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE ELECTRIC SWITCH Application filed November r29, 1929. Serial lo. 410,463.

This invention relates to electric switches and in particular to those switches of the rotary type controlled by a push-pull actuating member.

One of the objects of the inventlon 1s to provide a switch of the class described, that may be manufactured at low cost and that will be et'cient in its operation.

Another lobject of the instant invention 1s to improve switch structures in general.

Another object of the invention is to provide push-pull translating mechanism for a switch of the rotary or oscillatable type.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description. reference belng had to the accompanying drawing. wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing: I

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the switch structure in accordance with the 1nstant invention, parts being shown in section. substantially as shown and indicated bv the line and arrows l-l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation of the switch structure substantially as indicated by the arrow 2 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the switch mechanism substantially as indicated bv the line and arrows 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Figa 4 is a side elevation of the switch structure substantially as indicated by the arrow 4 of F ig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the swltch structure substantially as indicated by arrow 5 of Fig. 4.

Figs. 6 and T are elevational views on opposite faces of the driving member contributing to the instant invention.

Fig. S is a plan view of the movable contact or circuit completing means.

Fig. 9 is a detail in section illustrating the means of connecting the actuating member Awith the driving member.

With particular reference to the drawing, 20 indicates a mounting bracket of sheet metal or the like plroviding legs 21 and A22 supporting a switc actuator mechanism 23 and switch housing 24, substantially as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. The switch housing 24 is of cup formation, the bottom 25 being secured to the leg 22 of the bracket in any preferred means, as by spot welding, etc. Coaxial with the center of the cup 24, the bottom thereof is apertured at 26 to provide a journal bearing for a dielectric drive member 27, and also includes a stop post 28 cooperating with a recess 29 in said dielectric member for limiting the rotation or oscillation thereof.

The dielectric member 2T in general is of plate formation being composed of molded insulating compound and is fashioned to provide oppositely extending hubs 30 and 31, the tirst of which acts as a shaft portion journalled within the aperture 26 of the switch casing and extending without the same to provide driving engagement with the actuator mechanism 23 hereinbefore referred to. The hub portion 31 as will be seen b v reference t0 Fig. T is of somewhat larger dialueter than the hub 30 as it is illustrated, but is fashioned to provide peripheral notches 35, 36 and 3T. and concentric therewith is a counterbore 39 and an axial aperture 40 for the reception of the screw 41 threaded therethrough and to the shank portion 42 a crank 43 having driving engagement with the hub 30. This driving engagement is manifest by a notch 44 diametrically across the hub portion 30 into which transverse squirts 45 of the crank 43 have mating engagement. the screw 41 being threaded into the shank 42 for retaining the part in the driving relation.

A movable contact plate or circuit completing member is provided and may be of any desirable formation though in the immediate instance is fashioned as in Fig. 8. and provides the contact points 51, 52 and 53 arranged in triangular formation about a central opening 54. At points intermediate of the contact points 51, 52 and 53 the plate is provided with axial extensions 55, 56 and 57 for mating engagement with the notches or openings 35, 36 and37 in the hub portion 31 of the driving member 27. The arrangement and dimensions of driving plate and the contact closing member are so proportioned and arranged that the member will have a relatively loose driving engagement with the drive plate 27 and will be capable of slight axial movement along the common axis there of for a purpose that will presently appear.

For closing the back of the switch case 24 there is provided a switch back of dielectric material which may be of molded coinpound but in all events to provide a plurality of terminal members as 61, terminating with the contact points 67, distributed over the surface of said switch back to be in cooperable engagement with the points 51, 52, and 53 of the member 50, when assembled in closure relation with the case 2-1. The terminal members 61 may include fuse supporting brackets 68 and 69 for retention of a fuse 70, and the switch back 60 may be secured to the casing 24 in any preferred manner as by the peripheral tangs 71 of the switch case forming mating engagements with notches 72 about the periphery of said dielectric member, the terminating ends 73 being bent against the outside of the member 60 as illustrated in Fig. l.

Upon assembling the switch structure the dielectric member 27 is placedwithin the cup so that the hub portion 30 is received within the journalling aperture 26 and the screw -ll is then passed through the aperture 40 and threaded into the shank 42 of the crank 43 so that the squirts 45 are received within the notch 44 of the hub without the case, the arcuate opening 29 of course being disposed over the locating post 28. Due to the countersink 39 of the hub 30 of the dielectric plate 27. the head .of the screw 41 will be disposed within the central recess and out of engagement with the circuit completing member 50 when assembled 'therewith. It will be noted from the illustration in Fig. 3 that the aperture 54 of the plate 50 is disposed coaxial with the head of this screw in furtherance of positive insulation between the contact member 50 and the frame work or actuating mechanism of the switch. A contact engaging spring 75 is disposed against the member 27 and about the larger hub 31- substantially as illustrated in Fig. 3 and the circuit completing member 50 is then placed in mating engagement with the driving member 27 so that the extensions 55, 56 and 57 are received by the notches 35, 36 and 37 respectively, and so that the back of the contact portions 51, 52 and 53 are in engagement with the spring 75. It will be noted that the extensions 55, 56 and 57 of the plate are of dissimilar magnitude as are t-he notches or openings 35, 36 and 37 of the hub 31. This provides a one-way mating engagement between the circuit completing member 50 and the driving member 27, which assures that the coni tact member 50 will always be assembled in proper relation respect thereto. The

switch back 60 is next assembled with the case 24 so that the tongues 71 are received by the notches 7 2 of the switch back which tongues and notches are also dissimilarly arranged about the peripheries of the case and back so as to provide only one relation of correct mating engagement. By these provisions the fixed switch contact 67 supported by the switch back 60 will always be 1n cooperable engagement with the contact points 51, 52 and 53 of the circuit completing member, that is, the fixed contacts will always be in the path of movement of one or the other of these contact points, when the clrcuit completing member 50 is rotated by means of the crank 43.

The actuating means for the switch devlce includes the push-pull rod 8() providin an arm 81 having'pivotal en agement witg the link 43 as at 82 and is gui ed through an aperture in the leg 21 of the bracket 20, being received by a bushing 83 threaded through the leg 21 and secured by means of spacer 84 and nut 85, the bushing 83 being finlshed on the front side with an escutcheon plate 86. A spring 87 anchored to the bracket 29 as at 88 engages the push-pull rod 80 as at 89 and tends to urge the push-pull rod toward one lside of the bushing 83 and aids in the manipulation of the controller in actuating the switch \device from one position to the other.

In mounti a the switch upon the automotive vehlcle the eg 21 is usually secured to the dash or instrument panel and the bushing 83 is threaded therethrough so as to present the escutcheon 86 to the exposed portion of the said instrument board, and the push-pull rod ICO is provided with a control button or knob 90 which facilitates in the actuation of the switch contacts. It will readily be seen from reference to the drawing that a push-pull movement of the rod 80 will cause the crank 43 to oscillate about the pivot formed by the hub 30 journalled in the cup aperture 26, and this oscillation will manifest in the oscillation of the circuit completing member 50 over the inside surface of the switch back 60, so that various ones of the contact members 67 may be brought into electrical communication, whereby electrical circuits may be completed through various ones of the terminals 61.

The position of the switch mechanism as illustrated in Fig. 1 is that intermediatethe extremes of the oscillation permitted by the stop provisions 28 and 29 and is the position normally urged by the s ring 87 through its engagement with the r 80. Movement of the rod 80 in either direction from the position illustrated in Fig. 1 will tend to stretch `the spring 87 slightly more and suicient to store up energy therein to aid the operator in shifting the switch from either of the extreme positions to the intermediate position as illustrated in Fig. 1.

'hile the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed. constitutes a preferred form. it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

lYhat is claimed is as follows:

l. In an electric switch, the combination comprising a casing. a bracket supporting the same. a nonconducting drive plate within the casing providing a lmbjournalled in the casing and bracket. said driving plate providing a. second hub having peripheral notches therein, a contact plate provided with extensions loosel)v received by the notches of said second hub. a terminal plate closing the back of said switch and providing a pluralitv of contacts in coope ative relation with said contact plate and means disposed between said drive plate and contact` plate maintaining engagement of said contact plate with said terminal plate.

:2. In an electric switch. the combination comprising a casing and a bracket therefor. a drivingr member within said casing having a hub portion journalled within apertures of the casing and bracket. a switch back enclosing said housing and providing a plurality of fixed contacts. and a floating contactl member supported for oscillatable engagement with the contacts of said switch back. said driving plate and contact member having cooperating extension and opening provisions whereby said contact member may be oscillated upon oscillation of said driving member. and means without the casing secured to the hub portion of said drive member adapted to actnate the said contactV member.

3. In an electric switch. the combination comprising a casing. a bracket supporting the same. a driving member within the casing irovided with a pair of' oppositelvv disposed linb portions. said -case and bracket being apertured to provide'a journal for one of said hub portions. a switch back closing the casing and providing fixed contacts within the same. a circuit connect-ing lnember disposed for cooperation with said contacts and provided with extensions. notches in the second hub portion of said driving lnembcr loosely receiving extensions of said circuit completing member, and means urging the circuit. completing member into engagement with said switch back. and a controller secured to the first of said hub portions for driving said circuit. completing member.

l. In an electric switch. the combination comprising a casing` a nonconducting driving member within the casing providing a pair of oppositely disposed hub portions. one of which is jonrnalled within an aperture of said casing. a switch back closing the cas ing and supporting fixed contacts. a circuit completing member drivingly engaged lby the second hub portion and cooperatable to close circuit-s through said fixed contacts, and means for driving said circuit completing means from without the case.

5. A switch of the class described comprising. in combination, a casing, a dielectric driving member having a hub portion journalled in said casing and providing at` tachment for an actuating member without the casing. a switch back closing the casing and providing fixed contacts, a movable contactmember mounted for oscillatable engagement with vario-us ones of said contacts,

said dielectric member providing a second hub portion having peripheral openings, extensions on said movable contact member meeting with said peripheral openings providing a driving engagement. between said dielectric and contact members. and means disposed between said dielectric and movable contact insuring engagement between said contact. and switch back.

6. In an electric switch, the combination comprising a casing. a dielectric driving member providing a pair of oppositely disposed hub portions one of which is jonrnalled in an aperture of the'casing. and another of which has loose driving engagement with a circuit completing member. a switch back closing the casing and providing a plurality of contacts for cooperation wit-h `said circuit closing member and means maintaining engagement of the circuit. completing member with said switch back.

7. In an electric switch` the combination comprising a casing. a dielectric driving member providing a pair of oppositely disposed hub portions one of which is journalled in an aperture of the casing. and another of which has loose driving engagement with a circuit completing member` a switch back closing the casing and providing a plurality of contacts for cooperation with said circuit closing member, and means interposed between t-he said driving member and circuit completing member maintaining the hub of said member within the aperture of said casing and the circuit completing member in engagement with said switch back.

8. In a .switch of the class described. the combination comprising a cup shaped holising. a dielectric driving member providing a hub portion jonrnalled within an aperture in the bottom of said cup and being accessible from without the same. said driving member providing a second hub portion coaxial with the lirst and peripherally notched, a movable contact. member providing extensions loosely received by the peripheral notches of said second hub so asto be axially movable relative thereto. a switch back' closing said casing and providing a plurality of contacts cooperatively associated with said movable contact member, and means engaging said contact member maintaining it in engage- In testimony whereof I hereto aix my signature.

HARRY E. NORVIEL. 

